The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has assured patients and staff that the malfunctioning lift at its Surgical Department will be fully repaired and operational within two months.

The assurance comes after renewed concerns from the Neurological Department over the strain caused by the breakdown of one of its two lifts.

Speaking during an inspection by Parliament’s Health Committee on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, the hospital’s Chief Executive, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, explained that the delay was largely due to procurement challenges.

“The procurement has been completed. There were some delays with approval from the Public Procurement Authority, but this has now been resolved. The vendor has engaged the manufacturer, and we have been assured that the elevator will be delivered and installed within the next two months,” he said.

Dr Adam acknowledged the pressure on the hospital, noting that with only one lift currently in operation, emergency surgical services have been affected.

He added that management was working to ensure no further disruptions occur once the replacement is fitted.

Beyond infrastructure, Dr Adam also urged lawmakers to speed up the passage of legislation on organ harvesting, insisting it would drastically cut the costs of life-saving procedures.

“Today, kidney patients must travel abroad for transplants, and cornea procedures rely on imports costing between $3,000 and $4,000. With a legal framework, we could harvest organs locally and make cornea transplants available for as little as GH¢500,” he said.